Automatic bag closing sewing machine



Sept. 28, 1965 v. E. DAVIS 3,208,416

AUTOMATIC BAG CLOSING SEWING MACHINE Filed 001;- 3, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. V/EG/L 5 DA V/S' V. E. DAVIS AUTOMATIC BAG CLOSING SEWING MACHINE Sept. 28, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 3, 1965 INVENTOR. V/PG'IL E. 0/1 l/l BY 04% Q 2 ATTOE/VEY United States Patent 3,208,416 AUTOMATIC BAG CLOSING SEWING MACHINE Virgil E. Davis, 601 E. Locust St., Des Moines, Iowa Filed Oct. 3, 1963, Ser. No. 313,533 8 Claims. (Cl. 112-11) This invention relates to sewing machines and more particularly to a sewing machine that will automatically begin operation upon engagement by a bag, sack or the like and then when the bag has been sewn closed, will automatically cut the trailing thread and stop the machine.

It is common practice to close filled sacks and the like by sewing them closed on sewing machines. Usually the sewing machine is manually started and stopped and consequently much manual labor is required. Furthermore, the thread which trails each sack that has been sewn closed must be cut and heretofore has been severed manually from the closed sack. This trailing thread will be at least the width of the operators hand since next to the sack is the only convenient area of the trailing thread which may be grasped for moving into engagement with a thread cutting means.

Therefore, it is one of the objects of this invention to provide a sewing machine that will automatically sever the thread immediately after the sack or the like has been sewn shut.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a bag or like closing sewing machine that will automatically be started by the bag to be sewn, will sew the bag closed, automatically shut itself off after the bag has been closed and then will automatically sever the trailing thread.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a sewing machine that will automatically quickly close a bag or the like, thus saving substantial time and labor.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a sewing machine which is capable of cutting the trailing thread on a sack to a predetermined length which, as desired, is neither too long nor too short.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a sewing machine including a pair of sack engaging arms which cooperate to open and close an electrical switch for controlling the sewing machine power means.

A further object of this invention is to provide an automatic bag closing sewing machine which is simple in design, economical to manufacture and refined in appearance.

This invention consists in the construction, arrangements, and combination, of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the automatic thread severing device and bag actuated switch mechanism;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view taken along line 22 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of a sewing machine employing the device of FIGS. 1 through 3 with the sewing machine in operation sewing a bag closed; and

FIG. 5 is a top cross-sectional view taken along 5-5 in FIG. 4 and showing in particular the relationship of the various parts when the trailing sack thread is being cut.

The complete sewing machine including the automatic severing device and bag actuated switch mechanism of this invention is referred to generally by the reference numeral 10 in FIG. 4. The sewing machine includes a base 11 on which an upright standard 12 and a belt conveyor unit 13 are mounted. Although it is no part of this invention, it is preferable that the belt conveyor unit 13 be mechanically driven.

A carriage unit 14 is slidably mounted on the standard 12 and is releasably secured thereto by a set screw 16. On one side of the sleeve unit 14, an electric motor 17 is mounted with its output shaft 18 extended upwardly. On the other side of the sleeve unit 14- is mounted a conventional horizontal sewing machine 19 operably driven by an endless belt 21 rotatably mounted on a wheel 22 secured to the shaft 18, and to another wheel 7 23 mounted on the sewing machine.

The belt conveyor unit 13 is adapted to convey a filled bag 24 so that the top folded portion (FIG. 4) passes through the sewing machine 19 and is stitched or sewn together by the machine 19.

This invention, however, is concerned with the following structure apart from the conventional sewing machine structure, but in the embodiment shown in the drawings the invention is in the combination of the sewing machine and the automatic thread severing device and bag actuated switch mechanism. Referring to FIG. 4, the bag 24 is viewed as it passes through the sewing machine 19 toward the viewer. On the right side of a sewing head 26 at the lower edge thereof is the conventional sewing apparatus and the motion feed dogs. These parts have either been eliminated from the drawings or obscured by the adapter device of this invention which is generally referred to in FIG. 4 of the drawings by the reference numeral 27.

The adapter device 27 comprises a base plate 28 (FIG. 1) which is secured to the bottom end of a sewing ma chine arm 29 (FIG. 4) by any convenient means such as bolts or the like. A micro switch 30 is mounted on the base plate 28 and has an electrical cable 32 which extends to a junction box 33 in an electrical circuit with the motor 17.

A nose portion 34 is formed on the base plate 28 and has a pair of pivotal arm members 36 and 38 mounted thereon. These arm members 36 and 38 are normally positioned to extend at an angle into the path of the sack tops 40 as shown in FIG. 4.

Extending from its pivotal connection to the nose portion 34, the arm 36 has a portion 42 which carries a switch actuating bolt element 44 which is adapted to engage a trigger element 46 on the micro switch 30. The micro switch trigger element 46 is normally biased to an open position and only through engagement by the bolt element 44- will the micro switch 30 be closed. The bolt element 44 is adjustable relative to the arm 36 and the trigger element 46 by a nut element 48.

Extending from the arm portion 42 is a portion 50 which extends outwardly towards the sewing machine head 26 and into the path of the sack tops 40. A third portion 52 extends from the portion 50 in a generally parallel direction to the portion 42 and terminates in an end portion 54 extending away from the sewing machine 3 head 26 and then generally parallel to portions 42 and 52.

As shown in FIG. 2, the arm member 38 has a U- shaped end portion pivotally connected by a bolt 56 to the base plate 28. The end portion includes a leg 58 extending above the plate 28 and a leg 60 below the plate. The outer end of the lower leg 60 is pivotally connected to a spring 62 (FIG. 3) which is adjustably secured to the bottom side of the base plate 28 by a wing bolt and nut assembly 64. The tension in the spring 62 will ordinarily be maintained at a level sufficient to cause the free end of the arm 38 to engage the lower end of the sewing machine head 26 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 prior to a sack 24 entering the sewing machine 19 or just after it has departed therefrom.

The portion of the arm 38 extending outwardly from the base plate 28 is generally straight and includes a rod element 66 welded to the bottom side of the arm 38 and having a portion 67 extending vertically upward for engagement with the portion 54 of the arm 36. From the rod element 66, the edge 68 of the arm 38 facing the sewing machine head 26, tapers outwardly cooperating with the opposite arm 38 side edge 70 to form an enlarged end portion 72. The edge portion 68 is slightly convex in curvature.

At the outer free end of the arm 38 between the side edges 68 and 70 is an upstanding integral plate element 74 which extends from the edge 70 a little over half the width of the end 72 of the arm 38 and terminates in an L-shaped notch 76 which connects with the edge portion 68. The upstanding portion 74 is perpendicular to the arm member 38 and has a portion 78 formed integral therewith and extending perpendicular thereto in a direction along the edge 70 of the arm 38.

In operation, a filled sack 24 will move down the motorized conveyor 13 and through its top portion 40 first engage the portion 50 of the arm 36 thus causing the bolt element 44 to depress the switch trigger 46 resulting in the motor 17 being energized to cause the sewing machine to begin operation. As the sack 24 moves farther into the sewing machine, it will engage the side edge 68 of the arm 38 whereupon this arm will be pivoted toward the base plate 28 and the rod element 67 will move into engagement with the portion 54 of the arm 36 to hold the bolt element 44 in engagement with the switch trigger element 46. This is obviously necessary since the sack top portion 40 will have moved out of engagement with the arm 36 and the switch 30 would otherwise move to an open position but for the arm 38 maintaining it in a closed condition. The arm 36 is necessary since it is not practical to have a trigger element 46 on an electrical switch such as the micro switch 30 move a substantial distance as would be required by the bolt element 44 being mounted on the arm 38, since this arm is required to pivot through a substantial number of degrees during its cycle of operation. After the trailing edge of the top end 40 of the sack 24 has passed by the edge 68 of the arm 38, the arm 38 is pivoted by the spring 62 into mating engagement with the lower edge portion of the sewing machine head 26 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. During this pivotal movement of the arm 38, the upstanding plate element 74 engages the trailing thread 80 (FIG. 5) and moves it into engagement with a pair of mechanically operated scissorslike cutters 82 (FIG. 4) where the string is cut and the sack 24 is left with a trailing thread 84. It is not desirable to cut the string 80 at its connection tothe top end 40 since there would be a likelihood of the arm portion 74 becoming entangled in the top end 40 and causing a malfunction of the device. Furthermore, it is desirable to have a certain amount of trailing thread 84 for purposes of opening the sacks 24.

As seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the vertical portion 78 serves as a top for the arm 38 when the arm is biased by the spring 62 to its normal position in the line of travel of the bags 24. In this position the portion 78 engages the sewing machine head 26 adjacent the cutters 82.

It is to be understood however that the sewing machine 19 operates only for the minimum amount of time required to sew each sack top 40 since the instant the edge 68 of the arm 38 clears the top portion 40, the arm 38 moves toward the sewing machine head 26 thereby opening the micro switch 30 and shutting off the motor 17. The cycle of operation of the device 27 is repeated upon the next sack 24 engaging the arm 36 at the portion 50 which causes the bolt element 46 to close the micro switch 30 and start the sewing machine 19.

From a consideration of the foregoing disclosure, it will be obvious that all of the initially recited objects of the present invention have been achieved.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my automatic bag closing sewing machine without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

1. In a sewing machine having a power means and means operated thereby for stitching bags or like articles successively fed therethrough in spaced relation, comprising in combination;

a thread cutting means;

an arm pivotally connected to said sewing machine and normally positioned adjacent said cutting means in the line of travel of said bags and upon engagement therewith pivots out of said line of travel;

a spring means in engagement with said arm for yieldably pivoting said arm into its normal position upon each bag passing through said sewing machine, said arm being positioned to pivot into engagement with the trailing stitching thread and move it into cutting engagement with said cutting means When said arm moves to its normal position;

a switch means operatively connected to said arm and during the time said arm is in engagement with said bag said switch is closed thereby as each bag moves away from said arm and said machine said switch is opened; and

a circuit comprising said switch and said power means whereby said power means is inoperable upon said switch being opened and operable upon its being closed.

2. In a sewing machine having a power means and means operated thereby for stitching bags or like articles successively fed therethrough in spaced relation, comprising in combination;

a thread cutting means;

a first arm pivotally connected to said sewing machine and normally positioned adjacent said cutting means in the line of travel of said bags and upon engagement therewith pivots out of said line of travel;

a spring means in engagement with said arm for moving said arm into its normal position upon each bag passing through said sewing machine, said arm adapted to carry the trailing stitching thread into cutting engagement with said cutting means when said arm moves to its normal position;

a second arm pivotally connected to said sewing machine and adapted to be engaged by said bags and pivoted upon entering said sewing machine and prior to said bag engagement with said first arm;

a switch normally biased open and adapted to be engaged by said second arm upon said second arm being pivoted by said bags, said switch adapted to be closed upon engagement with said second arm;

said first arm upon being pivoted a predetermined distance by said bag adapted to engage said second arm to hold said second arm in operative contact with said switch unit said bag leaves said sewing machine and is out of engagement with said first arm; and

an electrical circuit including said power means and said switch whereby said machine is inoperable when said switch is opened and operable when said switch is closed.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein axes of pivotal movement of said first and second arms are spaced apart.

4. In a sewing machine having a power means and means operated thereby for stitching bags or like articles successively fed therethrough in spaced relation, comprising in combination:

a cutting means on said machine;

an arm pivotally connected to said sewing machine and adapted to pivot horizontally into a normal position in the line of travel of said bags to a position adjacent said cutting means and then to a position out of the line of travel of said bags upon engagement by one of said bags, said arm having a vertical portion adapted to move horizontally closely adjacent said cutting means;

a spring means in engagement with said arm to yieldingly hold it in said normal position;

said vertical portion of said arm adapted to engage the stitching thread trailing at the rear of each bag and carry it into cutting engagement with said cutting means;

a switch means operatively connected to said arm and during the time said arm is in engagement with said bag said switch is closed thereby as each bag moves away from said arm and said machine said switch is opened; and

a circuit comprising said switch and said power means whereby said power means is inoperable upon said switch being opened and operable upon its being closed.

5. In a sewing machine having a power means and means operated thereby for stitching bags or like articles successively fed therethrough in spaced relation, comprising in combination:

a thread cutting means positioned on the machine adjacent the bag discharge end of the stitching means;

an elongated arm operatively pivotally connected at one end to said machine, said arm adapted to pivot into a position in the line of travel of said bags through said machine, a portion of said arm adapted to engage each bag as it enters said machine and move said arm out of said line of travel; said portion extending at least to the discharge end of said stitching means to hold said arm out of said bag line of travel until at least the stitching operation of each bag has been completed;

a spring means for yieldingly holding said arm in said position in the line of travel of said bags;

an element carried by said arm at its outer end spaced longitudinally outwardly and rearwardly from said bag engaging portion and adapted to move closely adjacent to said cutting means as each bag departs from said machine, and said element being adapted to contact said stitching thread trailing each bag and move it into cutting engagement with said cutting means;

a switch means operatively connected to said arm, said arm adapted to open said switch upon said arm portion moving out of engagement with said bags; and

an electrical circuit including said switch and said power means whereby said power means is inoperable upon said switch being opened by said arm.

6. In a sewing machine having a power means and means operated thereby for stitching bags or like articles successively fed therethrough in spaced relation, comprising in combination:

a first arm pivotally connected to said machine;

a spring means for urging one end of said arm into the path of the sacks moving through said machine, said one end being caused to pivot out of said path by direct bag contact and be returned by said spring upon departure of said sack from said machine;

a thread cutting means on said machine positioned adjacent the one end of said arm when pivoted into the path of sacks moving through said machine;

an element on said one end of said arm adapted to engage the trailing thread at the rear of each sack departing from said machine and carry it into cutting engagement with said cutting means upon said one end pivoting back into the path of said sacks after each sack has departed from said machine;

an electrical circuit including said power means and an electrical switch, said switch being spring biased to an open position and when closed completing the circuit through said power means to operate said machine;

a second arm pivotally connected adjacent said first arm to said machine and having first means adapted to engage said switch means and second means adapted to engage said first arm, said second arm also having third means adapted to engage said sacks engaging said first arm, said third means engagement with said sacks adapted to pivot said second arm to cause said first means thereon to engage said switch thereby starting said power means for operation of said machine; and

said first arm upon being pivoted out of the path of said sack causing said second means on said second arm to engage said first arm and hold said first means in engagement with said switch after said sacks have moved out of contact with said third means thereby maintaining said power means in an operable condition until after each of said sacks have departed from said machine whereupon said first arm may pivot to its position with said one end in the path of said sacks and said first means on said second arm permits said switch to move to its normally open position.

7. In a sewing machine having power means and means operated thereby for stitching bags or like articles successively fed therethrough in spaced relation, comprising in combination:

a cutting means on said machine;

an arm pivotally connected to said machine and adapted to pivot horizontally into a normal position in the line of travel of said bags to a position adjacent said cutting means and then to a position out of the line of travel of said bags upon engagement by one of said bags, said arm having a horizontally disposed plate portion for engagement with said bags and a vertically disposed plate portion adapted to move horizontally closely adjacent said cutting means;

a spring means in engagement with said arm to yieldingly hold it in said normal position;

said vertical plate portion of said arm adapted to engage the stitching thread trailing at the rear of each bag and carry it into cutting engagement with said cutting means; and

a second vertically disposed plate portion is disposed at a right angle to said first vertically disposed portion and said second vertically disposed portion being adapted to engage said machine adjacent said cutting means to limit the pivotal movement of said arm.

8. In a sewing machine having a power means and means operated thereby for stitching bags or like articles successively fed therethrough in spaced relation, comprising in combination:

a cutting means on said machine;

an arm pivotally connected to said machine and adapted to pivot horizontally into a normal position in the line of travel of said bags to a position adjacent said cutting means and then to a position out of the line of travel of said bags upon engagement by one of said bags, said arm having a horizontally disposed plate portion for engagement With said bags and a vertically disposed plate portion adapted to move horizontally closely adjacent said cutting means;

a spring means in engagement with said arm to yieldingly hold it in said normal position;

said vertical plate portion of said arm adapted to engage the stitching thread trailing at the rear of each bag and carry it into cutting engagement with said cutting means; and

said horizontally disposed plate portion having front and rear sides, the front side being adapted to engage the bags, and said vertically disposed portion being spaced rearwardly from the front side of said horizontally disposed portion engaging said bags whereby a trailing stitching thread of a predetermined length Will be formed on said bags.

5 References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,569,396 9/51 Bates. 2,630,086 3/53 Kindseth et al. 11211 10 3,053,205 9/62 Fischbein 112-11 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A SEWING MACHINE HAVING A POWER MEANS AND MEANS OPERATED THEREBY FOR STITCHING BAGS OR LIKE ARTICLES SUCCESSIVELY FED THERETHROUGH IN SPACED RELATION, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: A THREAD CUTTING MEANS; AN ARM PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID SEWING MACHINE AND NORMALLY POSITIONED ADJACENT SAID CUTTING MEANS IN THE LINE OF TRAVEL OF SAID BAGS AND UPON ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH PIVOTS OUT OF SAID LINE OF TRAVEL; A SPRING MEANS IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID ARM FOR YIELDABLY PIVOTING SAID ARM INTO ITS NORMAL POSITION UPON EACH BAG PASSING THROUGH SAID SEWING MACHINE, SAID ARM BEING POSITIONED TO PIVOT INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE ARM TRAILING STITCHING THREAD AND MOVE IT INTO CUTTING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID CUTTING MEANS WHEN SAID ARM MOVES TO ITS NORMAL POSITION; A SWITCH MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID ARM AND DURING THE TIME SAID ARM IS IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID BAG SAID SWITCH IS CLAOSED THEREBY AS EACH BAG MOVES AWAY FROM SAID ARM AND SAID MACHINE SAID SWITCH IS OPENED; AND A CIRCUIT COMPRISING SAID SWITCH AND SAID POWER MEANS WHEREBY SAID POWER MEANS IS INOPERABLE UPON SAID SWITCH BEING OPENED AND OPERABLE UPON ITS BEING CLOSED. 